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4 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model 0. J. HEXAMER.

ELECTRIC GLDOK SYNOHRONIZING SYSTEM.

Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

WITNESSES.

A TTOR/VE Y,

(No Model.) 1 4 Sheets-Shae 2.

O. J. HEXAMER.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYNGHRONIZING SYSTEM.

No. 387,974. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

A TTORME Y.

N PETERS Phcloillnogrzphcr, Wnshingiun. D. c.

4 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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Nv PETERS, Phum-Lnhngmphm. \lAsmngmn. ac.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. J. HEXAMER.

ELECTRIC OLOGK SYNOHRONIZING SYSTEM. No. 887,974. Patented Aug. 14,1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES JOHN HEXAMER, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHILADELPHIA TIME TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

ELECTRIG CLOCK-=SYNCHRONIZING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,974, dated August1%, 1888.

Application filed January 10, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oniiniins JOHN HEX- AMER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia, and

5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Clock-Synchronizing Systems, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto theaccompanyiug draw IO ings, of which- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is adiagram of the system. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a face view of the upper partof a clock provided with a synchronizing apparatus. Fig. 3 is a rearview of the clock, enlarged, the back plate being removed. Fig. 4, Sheet3, is a view of the relay, electric bell, switch, &e. Fig. 5, Sheet 4,is an elevation of the recorder at the end of the main circuit. Figs. 6and 7 are elevations of another form of electric bell, the door of thecase being respectively closed and open.

The nature of this invention is an electric clock-synchronizing systemwherein a series of clock-synchronizing devices for correcting theclocks hourly, if either fast or slow, may be controlled by and at longdistances from a primary time-piece or regulator.

The invention consists, first, in the combination, wit-h the usualregulator, of a main 3O circuit controlled thereby and composed of aseries of adjacent sectional circuits whose ends, respectively, arealternately connected to relay-magnets and armatures, each of saidmagnets being provided with a battery or batteries, and to whichsectional circuits there are connected at intervals a series of clocksprovided with suitable synchronizing devices, whereby, upon the maincircuit being closed hourly by the regulator, a current of elec- 0tricity will pass along said circuit by means of the relays to thesynchronizers, which simultaneously act upon and correctly set the handsof the clocks if behind or ahead of time; secondly, in the combination,with the 5 regulator, the main circuit, and the batteries,

of a registering device at the end of said circuit for indicating thehourly currents of electricity, whereby it may be readily learned at theend of the main circuit whether the line is intact, as hereinafterdescribed; thirdly, in

the combination, with the regulator, the sec- Serial No. 223,850. (Nomodel.)

tional circuit, and its relay and batteries, of an electric bellconnected at a convenient point with said circuit, whereby the conditionof the sectional line maybe readily known by closing said switch, thebell thereupon ringing if the circuit be complete, and the couverse.

The invention consists, finally, in certain details of construction,tobe hereinafter pointed out.

Referring, now, to the annexed drawings, A, Fig. 1, indicates thewell-known primary clocl' or regulator, and B the main line or circuit,which is hourly closed and broken by the regnlator.Thiscireuitisdividedintosectionalcircuits B, whose ends are connected tothe hind ing-posts of the relays R, the opposite sections beingalternately connected to the relay-magnets in and the armatures athereof, respect 7o ively. Each relayR is provided with a battery orbatteries, B and at intervals along each section there are disposedclocks 0, provided with synchronizing devices S, which are connected bywires w to the line-wires XV. There are preferably ten synchronizers ineach section. The electric energy from the local batteries B does notact upon said synchroniz ers or upon the relay-magnets; but upon thecircuit being closed by the regulator A at the end of each hour theprimary electric current, combined with that of the local batteries,will connect the several sectional circuits, and thus complete the maincircuit, the synchronizers S being set in action simultaneously and theseveral clocks correctly regulated thereby. The sections B of the maincircuit may be continued for an indefinite distance.

The form of synchronizing apparatus pre ferred by me is shown in Figs. 2and 3, Sheet 2, and constitutes the subject of Letters Patent No.373,138, granted to me November 15, 1887. In said figures, 0 representsan ordr nary clock,within which, on either side of the face-plate 0thereof, is secured an electro-magnet, c",to whose armature c is seenred the short arm of a pivoted lever, c. lhe levers converge upwardlyand are provided at their free extremities with longitudinal slots 0into which respectively pass pins 0 on a pair of [co arms, c pivoted ina frame, 0 at the top of plate 0. Near the free end of each of thesearms there is a laterally-projecting pin, 0, which passes through andbeyond a semicircular slot, 0 in the plate 0 and dial 0, intersectingthe path of the upper part of the minute-hand at apoint adjacent to themeridian XII. Thus, upon a current of electricity passing to saidmagnets c in the manner above stated, the respective armatures 0 will beattracted tothe latter and the levers c and arms 0 thrown inward, theprojecting pins 0 on the end of the latter in their movement strikingagainst and correctly setting the minute-hand ofthe clock if fast orslow, whereupon,the circuit being broken at the regulator, the spring0", connected to the long arms of the levers and to pins 0, returns theparts to their former position, the movement thereof being limited bythe adj Listing-screws c.

In order to readily learn whether the circuit is intact and uninjuredwithout inspecting each section, I provide at the end of the maincircuit a recording device, D, which is constructed as follows,reference being had to Fig. 5, Sheet 4: lVithin a box or frame, (1,there is secured a plate, (1 upon which is supported an electro-magnet,(P. In a brackehd, adjacent to said magnet is pivoted a lever, (Z towhose short arm c" is connected the armature (Z and at the end of whoselong arm (Z is alaterally-projecting point,d. Upon a stud, d, projectingfrom the plate (1 is borne a wheel, (1, which contains a roll of paper,(1", whose free end is connected to a lower wheel, d, passing thereto byway of and over a roller, d, adjacent to and in line with the point (1"on the lever. It will be readily seen that upon the main circuit beingclosed at the regulator the electric current passing to the magnet (Zwill cause the latter to attract thereto, against the stress of aspring, (1, the armature d and the short arm (7 of the lever d Thus thestud or point upon the longer arm of the lever, being thrown outward,strikes against and punctures the paper d,whe1'eupon,the circuit beingbroken, the spring returns the parts to their normal positition. Thestrip of paper is rolled very slowly upon the wheel d, the latter beingconnected to a clock-movement.

The lineman at certain periodssay once a daye inspects the recorder D,and if the paper has been duly punctured he at once knows that the wiresare intact, but if not so punctured that there is a break in one ofthesections, which it is his duty to proceed to rectify.

It will be understood that I do not limitmyself to a recording device ofthe specific construction just described, as any suitableelectrically-controlled recorder may be substituted therefor withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

If the recorder indicates a break along the line, it is desirable thatmeans he provided whereby the broken section may be readily discovered.To this end I provide each section B of the main circuit with anelectric hell, E, which may be controlled wholly by the local batteryB", or partly thereby and by a small magneto-dynamo, F, Fig. 7, ofwellknown construction.

In Fig. 4, Sheet 3, the bell is shown connected to the binding-posts rof the relay R and controlled by the local battery. One of the wireseleading to the bell is provided with an ordinary switch, 0*, whosenormal position is open, as shown. It will be obvious that upon closingthis switclnif the sectional circuit be intact, the bell will ring; butifthe line be broken it will not. Ifthis section be complete, theinspector goes to the others successively until he discovers the brokensection.

In lieu of the bell and switch device described I have sometimes used abell, F, controlled partly by a magneto-dynamo, F. (See Fig. 7, Sheet4.) This construction ofelectric bell is well known and requires nospecial description. When it is used, the electricity is generated byturning a handle, f, the current, when the switch c is closed, inconnection with that from the battery 13*, causing the bell to ring ifthe line he unbroken. The first construction, however, is preferable,although, I may remark, I do not confine myself to the use of anyparticular form of elec' tric bell.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and wish to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In a clock-synchronizing systeni,theco1nloination ofthe regulator, the main sectional circuit, the relays connected to therespective sections of said circuit, the local batteries, thesynchronizers, and the clocks, together with the electric bellsconnected to said sections and the switches, the parts being combined,constructed, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposesetforth.

2. In a clock-synchronizing system,the combination of the regulator, themain circuit composed of a series of sections, the relays connected tosaid sections, the local batteries, the synchronizing devices, and theclocks, together with the recorder at the end of the main circuit andthe electric bells connected to said sections and provided withswitches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto affixed my signature this 31st dayof December, A. D. 1886.

CHARLES JOHN HEXAMER. Vi tn esses:

JNo. NOLAN, P. ODonNnLr...

